We present two cases of cardiac sarcoidosis whose first presentation was in pregnancy. All findings confirmed the diagnosis of sarcoidosis with cardiac involvement in both patients. The first patient, a 37-year-old, presented with dizziness and atrial fibrillation at 16 weeks' gestation. Echocardiography revealed thickened interventricular septum with a speckled pattern. Cardiac MRI after delivery showed myocardial oedema/inflammation corresponding with the same regions with early enhancement and epicardial delayed enhancement in the basal to mid-inferoseptal and basal anterior left ventricular myocardial segments. Transbronchial biopsy revealed histology of scanty fragments of inflamed bronchial mucosa. The second patient, a 31-year-old, was 17 weeks pregnant when she presented with daily palpitations and shortness of breath. She had prolonged episodes of supraventricular tachycardia. Echocardiography revealed a speckled septal and right ventricular wall pattern. Cardiac MRI after delivery showed basal and mid-ventricular mesocardial and epicardial enhancement, most compatible with sarcoidosis.

, ,
doi.org/10.5830/CVJA-2015-022, hdl.handle.net/1765/83607
Cardiovascular Journal of Africa
Department of Cardiology

Ertekin, E., Moosa, S., Roos-Hesselink, J., & Sliwa, K. (2015). Two cases of cardiac sarcoidosis in pregnant women with supraventricular arrhythmia. Cardiovascular Journal of Africa, 26(2), 96–100. doi:10.5830/CVJA-2015-022